1. Directional Terms & Body Planes

Superior

Toward the head / above

Inferior

Toward the feet / below

Medial

Toward the midline

Lateral

Away from the midline

Superficial

Closer to the body surface

Deep

Farther from the body surface

Anterior/Ventral

Toward the front

Posterior/Dorsal

Toward the back

Proximal

Closer to the point of attachment (limbs)

Distal

Farther from the point of attachment (limbs)

Ipsilateral

Same side of the body (right arm + right leg)

Contralateral

Opposite side of the body (right arm + left leg)

Frontal (coronal) plane

Divides body into anterior and posterior halves

Transverse (horizontal) plane

Divides body into superior and inferior halves

Midsagittal (median) plane

Divides body into equal left and right halves

Parasagittal plane

Divides body into unequal left and right halves

Oblique plane

Passes through the body at an angle

Cranial cavity

Contains the brain

Vertebral cavity

Contains the spinal cord

Thoracic cavity

Contains heart and lungs

Pleural cavity

Surrounds each lung

Pericardial cavity

Encloses the heart

Abdominal cavity

Contains digestive organs and kidneys

Pelvic cavity

Contains bladder and reproductive organs

RUQ (Right Upper Quadrant)

Liver gallbladder right kidney

LUQ (Left Upper Quadrant)

Stomach spleen pancreas left kidney

RLQ (Right Lower Quadrant)

Ascending colon appendix

LLQ (Left Lower Quadrant)

Descending colon